Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-22-11City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 22, 2011 Marion Conference Room, City Hall Members Present: Comms. Matasosky, Brantly, Longie, Starfield, Vlasak, Emond, Schubert, Ex- officio member Mayor Mark Bellows, Ex- officio member Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Todd Bornhauser, Ex- officio member City Administrator Steve Mielke. Members Absent: Comms. Smith, Tushie. Others Present: David Olson, Community & Economic Development Director; Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist. 1. Call Meeting to Order Chair Matasosky called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room of City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville, Minnesota. 2. Approve February 22, 2011 Meeting Minutes Motion 11.05 Comms. Emond /Schubert moved to approve the minutes of the February 22, 2011 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Update on Marketing Plan Subcommittee Mr. Kienberger provided an update to the EDC on the status of the work the Marketing Subcommittee is doing in moving towards accomplishing the goal of creating a marketing plan outlined in the 2011 -2013 Strategic Plan for Economic Development. The group is working on formulating an RFP to hire a marketing consultant to help the group outline and identify the components necessary for a successful marketing strategy plan. Presentations by site selectors and some statistical data on Lakeville's demographic composition were reviewed at the last Subcommittee meeting to help identify priorities and outcomes to be incorporated into an RFP. Comm. Starfield asked about the partnership potential of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce in the development of this marketing plan. It was noted that the Chamber has been identified as a partner and will be involved along with other partners and stakeholders as the process evolves and a consultant is hired to help formulate the plan. Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 22, 2011 The EDC concluded that the Marketing Subcommittee is moving in the right direction and should proceed with the development of an RFP to select a marketing consultant. 4. Discussion of Economic Development Incentive Toolbox Mr. Olson reviewed the EDC outlining the development of an economic development incentive toolbox. Mr. Mielke reviewed the process and implementation methods being suggested for creating the toolbox. It was noted that there is a greater challenge in identifying when and how the tools are used rather than which tools are available. Chair Matasosky and Comm. Longie asked about how to calculate a return on investment for determining what type or amount of incentives to be used. It was added that an approach should also be taken to distinguish Lakeville by what it can offer and a creative implementation to incentive tools. Mr. Mielke responded that you have to be able to look for the right tool for the right prospect. The EDC discussed how prospects are handled internally and how the prospect process can be likened to sales. Mr. Mielke added that the Community & Economic Development department handles business prospects and shepherds them through the development process from start to finish. Comm. Vlasak mentioned that we need to be able to show a prospect the whole toolbox and help them find applicable tools from what's available. Mr. Mielke added that the policy decision needs to be made as to how to judge the return on any type of incentive "investment" the City makes in a company. How is it determined if an incentive is "worth it ". Chair Matasosky noted that part of the challenge also arises from dealing with a wide range of people looking to come to Lakeville. Sometimes it is a large corporate site selector who understands the process and has one set of needs, to a small business owner who has never moved or relocated a business before. Comm. Brantly asked if there is a way for Lakeville to identify a specific industry that is a good fit for the City. Mr. Olson responded that staff works with the broker community to identify and understand the trends in business movement and what is coming down the line. Comm. Starfield asked if there was a way to get on more people's radar screens by doing more constant follow -up with prospects. PA Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 22, 2011 Mr. Mielke stated that policy guidance is the key to how we should proceed at this point. Any incentive offered to a business needs to be publicly defendable. What are our goals? How do you measure the gains against what you give up? Goals need to be set so that staff has direction to be able to talk in greater detail with business prospects about potential incentives; i.e. if we want to incent affordable housing, the City Council needs to make that a goal. Mr. Olson reviewed a draft business subsidy policy that was worked on and discussed at several meetings last year. Once a subsidy policy is formally adopted, it will help guide the policies that can be implemented for individual tools in the City's incentive toolbox. Comm. Brantly asked if the number of commercial /industrial property brokers are few enough that it is feasible to build additional relationships with them as part of an overall strategy. Mr. Olson responded that this is one of the things being discussed within the Marketing Subcommittee of the EDC and will continue to be a part of this process. Mayor Bellows mentioned the formation of a financial advisory task force that was brought up at the end of last month's EDC meeting and noted that Comm. Longie would be discussing this at the end of the meeting. Mayor Bellows excused himself from the meeting at this point. Comm. Schubert mentioned that because each project is different, we need to be able to react strategically. Comm. Starfield suggested adding the work done a few years ago by the Business Telecommunications Technology Task Force (BTTTF) to the list of possible items to be included in the toolbox. Mr. Mielke suggested the complete "package" for prospects and brokers could be compiled as a part of this process and ultimately put on the City website as that is often the first and sometimes the only stop for site selectors. Comm. Vlasak also recommended looking at some best practices from around the country. Chair Matasosky concluded the discussion by stating that there are many variables in the incentives discussion and that some of this information is currently being analyzed by the Marketing Subcommittee. The EDC will continue to move forward on this topic. 5. Director's Report Mr. Olson reviewed the Director's Report. Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 22, 2011 Comm. Longie discussed a topic that came out of the Chamber of Commerce's Public Policy group regarding the formation of a financial advisory task force. It was mentioned that there could possibly be a liaison from the EDC on this group. A list of names is being submitted to City Council for possible appointment to a newly created city task force. Mr. Mielke noted that the City Council will need to identify the mission and membership of this group before anything can become formalized. The EDC concluded that when the City Council identifies the mission of this group a bit more, it can be discussed in greater detail at a future EDC meeting. 6. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Adam Kieptile Recording Secretary Attested to: romp, /i 0